Author: Emil Lazarian

 11:44, 5 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Minimum wage is expected to increase in Armenia, reaching 85 thousand drams, Deputy minister of labor and social affairs Ruben Sargsyan said at the parliamentary standing committees’ debate of the 2022 state budget draft.

“It is envisaged to raise the minimum wage up to 85 thousand drams by 2026”, he said.

He informed that they will take the first steps from 2023, now discussions are underway with their colleagues of the finance ministry.

The current monthly minimum wage in Armenia is 68,000 drams.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:41, 5 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense Arshak Karapetyan received today Ambassador of France to Armenia Anne Louyot, the ministry said in a statement.

During the meeting the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the regional security, the ongoing reforms in the Armenian Armed Forces and the Armenian-French cooperation in the defense sector were discussed.

The sides highlighted intensifying cooperation development activities in order to continue the existing effective programs and initiate new directions for partnership.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 14:42, 4 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Azimuth Airlines started operating the direct flights from Astrakhan to Yerevan, the Russian Aviasion reports.

Flight Astrakhan – Yerevan – Astrakhan is operated weekly on Tuesdays according to the schedule.

The tickets and the schedule are available on the official website of Azimuth Airlines.

 14:44, 4 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of foreign affairs carries out targeted works over the launch of the Armenia-EU visa liberalization dialogue, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gevorgyan said at the joint session of the parliamentary standing committees dedicated to the debate of the 2022 state budget draft.

He stated that the cooperation of various agencies of Armenia with the European Union is of constant nature.

As for the launch of the dialogue on the visa liberalization, the deputy FM said: “The foreign ministry carries out targeted works on this matter with both the EU agencies and its member states. Of course, coronavirus doesn’t contribute to the finalization of the agreements about that launch. I think we also have some “homework” on this matter, to ensure that launch as soon as possible”, he said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 15:26, 4 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has released the judgments of the cases relating to resident of Armenia’s Karmiraghbyur village Mamikon Khojoyan and resident of Chinari village Karen Petrosyan who have been captured and tortured by Azerbaijan in 2014.

The Court concluded that Baku has violated Articles 2 (right to life), 3 (prohibition of torture) and 5 (right to liberty and security) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Court obliged Azerbaijan to pay 40,000 Euros for each cases.

77-year-old Mamikon Khojoyan was captured by Azerbaijan in January 2014. On March 4 he was handed over to Armenia and died at home ten weeks later. The cause of death was, according to the post-mortem forensic report, a general intoxication of the organism.

Karen Petrosyan was captured by the Azerbaijani troops on August 7, 2014. On 8 August 2014 the Azerbaijani authorities announced that Mr Petrosyan had died unexpectedly, according to preliminary information due to “acute cardio-pulmonary and myocardial failure”.

 15:52, 4 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Members of the ruling Civil Contract party of the Armenian parliament led by head of the faction Hayk Konjoryan met today with co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Kimmo Kiljunen (Finland, SOC) and Boriana Åberg (Sweden, EPP/CD), who have arrived in Armenia on a monitoring visit, the Armenian Parliament’s press service said.

Hayk Konjoryan highlighted the strengthening of democracy in Armenia, emphasizing that the enhancement of democratic institutions is one of the priorities of the ruling faction.

The lawmakers discussed the electoral reforms, the improvement of the political system and the development of an independent judiciary during the meeting.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:13, 4 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. On November 4, Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan received the co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of obligations and commitments by Armenia Kimmo Kiljunen and Boriana Åberg, the Parliament’s press service said.

Welcoming guests, Alen Simonyan has noted that this year marks the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s joining the Council of Europe. He greatly highlighted the cooperation with the Council of Europe, as well as the support of the organization in the process of the ongoing democratic reforms in Armenia. The work of the co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee was highly evaluated. The Speaker underlined the importance of the political agenda of the democratic reforms, affirming that Armenia would continue to move with that agenda.

At the meeting issues related to the post-war realities, themes on democracy in Armenia, the human rights and the legislative reforms were discussed.

The effective implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2019-2022 was in particular highlighted.

The co-rapporteurs informed that discussions were held with their colleagues of Armenia, distinguishing some priorities of cooperation.

The interlocutors touched upon the necessity of restoring the negotiation process within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Ideas were exchanged over the journalists’ work in parliament.

The parliamentary government system, as well as the current state of the power-opposition parliamentary format were also discussed.

Russian, Azerbaijani FMs discuss implementation process of trilateral agreements

 19:08, 2 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a telephone conversation with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov, ARMENPRESS reports, citing the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the interlocutors discussed issues of bilateral relations, as well as the regional-international agenda.

The sides exchanged views on the implementation of the agreements reached by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021, taking into account that it’s already a year since the establishment of the full-fledged ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

The Foreign Ministers of the two countries exchanged approaches on the issues of easing tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, unblocking all transport and economic ties in the South Caucasus, and creating a favorable atmosphere for regional cooperation.

Sergey Lavrov stressed the need to continue efforts aimed at the comprehensive settlement of all of political-diplomatic issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

 19:48, 2 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan received the newly appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State Erika Olson, who is in Armenia on a regional visit. FM Mirzoyan congratulated her on assuming the post and wished success in her responsible mission, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Mirzoyan and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Olson exchanged views on regional security and stability, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the framework of the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. In this regard, the five-party meeting with the participation of the Co-Chairs and the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in New York in September was highlighted.

The humanitarian situation created by the aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh was also discussed. In this context, Minister Mirzoyan stressed the need for the unconditional repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war and other detainees, as well as the need to preserve the Armenian religious, historical and cultural heritage of Artsakh in the territories that have appeared under Azerbaijani control.

Ararat Mirzoyan and Erika Olson also discussed a wide range of issues related to Armenia-US relations, expressing satisfaction with the positive dynamics of the dialogue at different levels. The interlocutors discussed the effective cooperation in the areas of democratic development, strengthening the rule of law, protection of human rights, and the fight against corruption.

The sides also referred to the joint steps to be taken within the framework of the US-Armenia Strategic Dialogue (USASD) and the programs of the USAID in Armenia.

Earlier the US Embassy in Armenia informed that the new Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State Erika Olson will travel to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to “promote regional cooperation and discuss bilateral issues”. While in Yerevan, Olson will participate in a regional Chiefs of Mission meeting in November 2-4, joining U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne M. Tracy, U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Kelly C. Degnan, and U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Lee Litzenberger, as well as Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Andrew Schofer and USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Alexander Sokolowski.